Dog breed

West Siberian Laika

The West Siberian Laika is a Russian spitz-type hunting dog, an all-round helper for hunters in the taiga from the Urals to Siberia. It hunts birds and fur-bearing game and announces its find with loud barking. The West Siberian Laika is tough, frost-hardy, friendly toward people and extraordinarily keen on hunting.

FCI Group V · Spitz and primitive · standard no. 306

Weight: 18–22 kg
Height: 51–62 cm
Lifespan: 12–15 years
Origin: Russia

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Photo: nieznany autor, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Temperament

The FCI standard describes the Laika as calm and even-tempered, with an excellent nose and a strong passion for hunting, self-assured and watchful with strangers. With its family it is warm and loyal, and it is usually friendly toward people. Wisdom Panel notes, however, that it will defend itself if another dog picks a fight. Above all, the Laika is a hunter: it works independently, far from its handler, and makes its own decisions. That can make it independent in training, though it is intelligent and learns readily when methods are gentle. Its prey drive is very strong, so cats, poultry and small animals are a challenge. It barks loudly and often, because barking is its working tool. Without exercise and something to do, it gets bored and destructive.

Energy: calmvery energetic
Affection: independentvelcro pet
With children: not idealgreat
With other pets: difficultgreat
Trainability: stubborneager to learn
For first-time owners: for experienced ownersyes
With strangers: waryoutgoing
Playfulness: dignifiedeternal puppy
Shedding: minimalheavy
Grooming: easydemanding
Being left alone: strugglescopes well
Apartment living: needs a house and yardgreat in a flat
Barking: quietvocal
With other dogs: difficultgreat
Protectiveness: lowhigh
Drooling: hardly anya lot
Cold tolerance: feels the coldexcellent
Heat tolerance: strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the West Siberian Laika for?

The Laika is for a hunter or a very active person who spends a lot of time in the woods, has a house with a well-fenced yard and understands the needs of a working dog. It won't do well in an apartment building, in a city without access to forest, in a home with cats, chickens or rabbits, or with someone bothered by loud barking.

Pros

tremendous stamina
handles frost superbly
friendly toward people
clean and easy to groom

Challenges

very strong prey drive
barks loudly
huge exercise needs
independent in training

Size and looks

Size and looks: West Siberian Laika
Height at the withers	males 55–62 cm, females 51–58 cm
Weight	males 18–22 kg, females 18–22 kg
Lifespan	12–15 years
Coat	medium
Colors	gray, red, fawn, reddish brown, white, white with patches, black
Country of origin	Russia
Classification	Group V: Spitz and primitive types
Also known as	Laika, Zapadno-Sibirskaya Laika

Care and exercise

90–150minof exercise a day

2/5grooming needs

4/5shedding

A Laika needs a great deal of exercise, at least one and a half to two and a half hours a day, ideally in the woods, on long hikes or while hunting. Outside of hunting, tracking, nosework and canicross work well. Off leash it should run only in fenced areas, because it can wander far on a game trail. The dense double coat is naturally clean and rarely needs bathing; for most of the year, brushing once or twice a week is enough, but during shedding season the dog needs brushing out every day. Nail trims, ear cleaning and tooth brushing are part of the routine. The Laika handles frost superbly, but it needs daily contact with people. Training should be gentle and positive, because harsh methods put it off.

How much should the West Siberian Laika eat?The calculator starts from this breed’s typical weight: calories and grams a day.

Health and breed-related conditions

The West Siberian Laika is considered a healthy, hardy breed, selected for decades mainly for working ability. Wisdom Panel gives a lifespan of 12–15 years. Unfortunately, there are no population studies of the breed's health. Breed health websites list hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy and epilepsy as potential problems, but they give no data on frequency or scientific sources, so treat this with caution. When buying a puppy, ask about the parents' hip X-rays and eye exams, as well as their working trial results, which in this breed are an important confirmation of fitness.

hip dysplasiaListed in breed health guides as the main risk; there is no population data.
progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)Reported by breed health websites; ask about the parents' eye exams.
epilepsyRecorded in the breed according to health guides, with no data on how common it is.

Health tests to ask the breeder about

hip X-ray (HD)
eye exam (ECVO)
parents' working trials

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

According to the FCI standard, the West Siberian Laika descends from the hunting dogs of the Khanty and Mansi peoples, who lived in the forests of the Urals and Western and Eastern Siberia. In the early 20th century, Russian dog experts drew up the first standards for the Vogul (Mansi) and Ostyak (Khanty) Laikas. In 1947 a new classification of Laikas was proposed, and these closely related lines were merged into one breed, whose standard was approved in 1952. Today it is the most popular hunting breed in Russia, found from Karelia to Kamchatka. The name comes from the Russian verb "layat'," meaning to bark.

Fun facts

The name "Laika" comes from a Russian word meaning to bark.
The breed standard was approved in the Soviet Union in 1952.
It is currently the most popular hunting breed in Russia.
The Laika signals game to the hunter with a distinctive, melodic bark.

Frequently asked questions

Is a West Siberian Laika a good family pet?

In a house with a large fenced yard and an active owner, yes. In an apartment, not really. The Laika needs lots of exercise in the woods and has a very strong prey drive, and an under-exercised one barks loudly and destroys things.

How big does a West Siberian Laika get?

The FCI standard gives only height: 55–62 cm for males and 51–58 cm for females. According to Wisdom Panel, adult Laikas usually weigh 18–22 kg. It is a lean, strong dog rather than a heavy one.

How long do West Siberian Laikas live?

Usually 12–15 years. The breed is considered healthy and hardy, although detailed population studies are lacking. Activity, a lean build and a puppy from healthy parents proven in work all support a long life.

Do West Siberian Laikas shed?

Yes, heavily, especially during seasonal shedding, when they drop their thick undercoat. Then they need daily brushing, and the rest of the year once or twice a week. The coat is naturally clean and rarely needs bathing.